| Should you be doing a search for training tracks | | | | of their training is sent immediately, and not in a |
| certified by Microsoft, then you'll naturally expect | | | | piecemeal fashion. It's then your own choice how |
| training organisations to offer a wide selection of | | | | fast or slow and in what order you want to finish |
| the best learning programmes available today. You | | | | things. |
| might also hope to get advice on the careers that | | | | Many companies only look at the plaque to hang |
| are available when you've finished studying, and | | | | on your wall, and forget the reasons for getting |
| the type of individual that work might be right for. | | | | there - which is of course employment. You |
| Most students feel happier if they can be advised | | | | should always begin with where you want to get |
| on what would suit them individually. Having | | | | to - don't make the journey more important than |
| selected the career track for you, you will require | | | | where you want to get to. Never let yourself |
| a relevant course matched to your ability level | | | | become part of that group who choose a training |
| and skill set. The standard of teaching should leave | | | | program that seems 'fun' or 'interesting' - and end |
| no room for complaints. | | | | up with a plaque on the wall for something they'll |
| What is the reason why traditional degrees are | | | | never enjoy. |
| being overtaken by more qualifications from the | | | | Get to grips with what you want to earn and |
| commercial sector? Industry now recognises that | | | | whether you're an ambitious person or not. This |
| to cover the necessary commercial skill-sets, | | | | will influence what precise accreditations you'll need |
| proper accreditation from companies such as | | | | to attain and how much effort you'll have to give |
| Adobe, Microsoft, CISCO and CompTIA often is | | | | in return. The best advice for students is to talk |
| more effective in the commercial field - and a | | | | with a skilled advisor before they embark on a |
| fraction of the cost and time. The training is | | | | training program. This helps to ensure it contains |
| effectively done by concentrating on the particular | | | | the relevant skills for the chosen career. |
| skills that are needed (along with a relevant | | | | Getting your first commercial position can feel |
| amount of associated knowledge,) rather than | | | | more straightforward with the help of a Job |
| going into the heightened depths of background | | | | Placement Assistance facility. In reality it isn't a |
| non-specific minutiae that academic courses often | | | | complex operation to land a job - assuming you're |
| do - to fill a three or four year course. | | | | well trained and qualified; the growing UK skills |
| As long as an employer knows what areas need | | | | shortage sees to that. |
| to be serviced, then they simply need to | | | | Advice and support about getting interviews and |
| advertise for someone with a specific qualification. | | | | your CV is sometimes offered (alternatively, |
| Commercial syllabuses are all based on the same | | | | check out one of our sites for help). Ensure you |
| criteria and aren't allowed to deviate (as academic | | | | update that dusty old CV right away - don't leave |
| syllabuses often do). | | | | it till you pass the exams! A good number of |
| An area that's often missed by trainees weighing | | | | junior support jobs have been bagged by people |
| up a particular programme is that of 'training | | | | who are in the process of training and haven't |
| segmentation'. Basically, this means how the | | | | even passed a single exam yet. This will at the |
| program is broken down into parts to be | | | | very least get you into the 'maybe' pile of CVs - |
| delivered to you, which makes a huge difference | | | | rather than the 'No' pile. Normally you'll get quicker |
| to what you end up with. A release of your | | | | service from a local IT focused recruitment |
| materials piece by piece, according to your own | | | | consultant or service than you'll experience from |
| speed is how things will normally arrive. While | | | | any training course provider's employment division, |
| seeming sensible, you might like to consider this: | | | | as they'll know the local area and commercial |
| Sometimes the steps or stages pushed by the | | | | needs better. |
| company's salespeople doesn't suit all of us. What | | | | A common frustration of some training companies |
| if you find it hard to complete every element | | | | is how much people are prepared to work to |
| inside their defined time-scales? | | | | become certified, but how un-prepared they are |
| For maximum flexibility and safety, it's normal for | | | | to work on getting the position they've studied |
| most trainees to make sure that every element | | | | for. Have confidence - the IT industry needs YOU. |